Health Care--Debate or Shouting Match?

I'm sick of hearing about all these town hall meetings held to discuss health care. There's very little footage of intelligent questions being asked, but plenty of finger-pointing and chanting. Are there people out there worried that health care is going in the wrong direction? Sure. I generally support the President and his general idea of reforming the system, but even I have my questions and concerns. Why are conservatives dreaming up and handing out false information about "death panels" when they could do this country a great service by asking about things the proposed bill actually calls for?

It scares me that people out there can be so uninformed to deny that any of these protests are being led by lobbyists, special interests groups and other groups with their own agendas. What's even more alarming is the fact that these groups aren't trying to get answers, but intentionally trying to sabotage an actual discussion of the issue. The same tactics were used in Florida during the 2000 election and signaled a conservative-led abortion of democracy. They approach a situation thinking subconciously, "I don't care if I'm wrong, I'm going to raise my voice and say the same thing over and over again until my opponent agrees or stops talking."

The larger issue here: a conservative thought-process controls the media. If the mainstream media was doing it's job, it would take every opportunity to point out that similar town hall meetings held under the Bush administration were screened to intentionally keep out members of the public who would challenge conservative speakers. The Obama adminstration deserves credit for opening up the floor to both sides. If the media was doing it's job, it would jump on critics like Rush Limbaugh for his comparisons between Democrats and Nazis, pointing out how conservatives don't understand the political spectrum. They accuse the left of embracing an ideology, while failing to acknowledge how their own points of view are embraced by white supremacists and other extreme groups.

The media doesn't do it's job. It allows ultra-conservative critics to deride anyone who would dare accuse them of anything and refuses to speak out and call right-wingers on their bullshit. Liberals are constantly labeled as un-American while conservatives refuse to offer real solutions to any of the country's problems. Then outspoken members of the right call people on the left socialists. Are they seriously trying to scare people in to believing Democrats are further to the left than they are to the right? Sounds like McCarthy-era tactics to me. Thank God some journalists back in the 50s were paying attention and actually fought such idiotic attacks. I'm particularly concerned about people today, because so many people seem to fall for anything that comes out of any political officials' mouth-- on both sides of the aisle.

I still maintain that a level-headed approach to government and media coverage will be based in a centrist approach. You can't adopt a true watchdog role and maintain a government system of checks and balances unless you truly distance yourself from the rhetoric of both parties. Most think to be centrist is to soften arguments between right and left and try to be the peacemaker. Good centrist approaches show both sides of the story and actively hold those sides responsible for their actions. In covering these town hall meetings, good centrists will not only keep both sides on the record, but will ask why intelligent discussion is not taking place. The media must fulfill its role as facilitator in the marketplace of ideas. It should encourage the healthy dialogue on all issues, not the shouting matches and competitions to drown out sensible speech. Will someone please go to their local meeting and ask a good question?

Obama, Gates, Crowley

There's been a lot of media coverage dedicated to the Cambridge, Massachusetts incident between black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates and police officer James Crowley. I find this story particularly interesting because it serves as one of the first major events in race relations to occur during the Obama administration. The incident takes on a decidedly different tone with a black man in charge of the country and Obama's decision to personally address the situation is a unique change of pace itself.



Obama's initial statement saying Crowley "acted stupidly" was a bit disappointing. After spending nearly an hour discussing health care and the economy, one quick comment took the focus off the important issue at hand. However, the president's later actions have demonstrated a desire to correct the issue and settle down the controversial matter. By downplaying his comments and choosing to bring both parties together for a drink, Obama fulfills the role of mediator in a situation that really could have been resolved if cooler heads had prevailed.



While it's a shame that our country must still deal with the disease of racism, Obama's handling of this particular incident is a great step forward in opening up the topic of race relations to significant dialogue.

The Episcopal Church: In The News Again

I've been an Episcopalian all my life and I must say I'm disappointed in the Episcopal Church for forcing the issue of gay and lesbian clergy at General Convention this year. I myself have no problem with gays and lesbians being elected as clergy, but I don't see why the church needed to take a definitive stance on the matter.

The Episcopal Church has distinguished itself from other Christian denominations through progressive thinking and an acceptance of open discussion on controversial topics. By taking a stance that clearly puts the community at odds with the larger Anglican Communion is no way to maintain that standard. In taking a specific stance, we move closer to the Catholic Church with an inflexible and clear-cut statement of beliefs. While the community adheres to a belief in God, Episcopalians find comfort in acknowledging they don't have all the answers. They see the experience of faith as a journey not a destination that requires specific directions. We agree or agree to disagree, but we keep talking and we allow both viewpoints to exist without issue.

While the move towards a liberal church did provide a more inviting atmosphere towards the LGBT community, it further isolated current parishioners who have expressed their displeasure over the inclusion of that group. If the decision was a move to bolster attendance, it merely attracts one group and repels another. The governing body of the church knew the problems the issue would raise, but proceeded regardless. Now, a number of dioceses are threatening to leave and the possibility of being cut off from the Anglican Communion remains.

On the other hand, I take issue with conservative members who complained about gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire's presence at General Convention and at previous major gatherings of church leaders. They fail to respect the generally inviting nature our church has attempted to maintain and label the man as a villain leading the liberal revolt. I've had the distinct honor of meeting the controversial figure a number of years ago and was able to speak with him openly about the subject. He acknowledges his position in the church and in various media have brought a lot of unwanted attention to the church. However, in the end, he is primarily focused with the needs of the diocese he serves. Like every other Bishop, he needs to explain to his parishioners why churches are closing and where the money will come from next. He is attempting to do the job he was elected to do without shaking the boat too much.

Gene Robinson is a gay man who is in a faithful committed relationship holding an office within the church. People may consider his homosexuality as a serious sin. I disagree, but if it is a sin, it is a minor one compared to the way people have treated this man. Robinson was ordained wearing a bullet-proof vest and surrounded by a security detail for protection from death threats. The church he was ordained in had metal detectors posted at the entrances for fear of an attempt on the man's life. What kind of a country do we live in when people have to live in fear for who they are or what they believe? I was under the impression that we lived in America, and I was under the impression people who believed in God also valued the protection of life and the promotion of peace.

I certainly don't know the answer to resolving all this, but I firmly believe the Episcopal Church should never have banned gay and lesbian clergy in the first place. I think the decision to lift the ban will do more harm than good in the end. If a diocese wants to elect gay clergy, so be it. If it doesn't, so be it. Each diocese should decide for themselves. Each member of church should decide for themselves. That's my sermon for today...

Summer Projects--Movies

I've always been a fan of lists. They keep things orderly and you earn a sense of accomplishment when you can cross things off. A little over a year ago, I began embarking on a journey to complete a big, time-consuming beast of a list. I decided to tackle the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the top 100 movies of all time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years..._100_Movies#1998_List It began when a friend of mine told me she had seen more than 80 of the films. I realized I had only seen about 20 and felt compelled to do some catching up.

I've spent some late nights and lazy afternoons educating myself on these good movies. I started off buying the films on DVD, but that became a slow, expensive proposition. Thank God for Netflix. Working on the top 100 (while also watching some crazy ones that didn't make the cut), I've almost passed the big 5-0 halfway point. With plenty of down time during the late hours before I leave for work at midnight, I try and watch each Netflix movie as soon as I get it. Later today I'm expecting #84-Fargo.

As with most lists, there's always controversy surrounding the order and everyone has their own opinion. After looking at the list and seeing some movies I was previously unfamiliar with, I've developed some opinions of my own:

• Raging Bull has no business being 24th on the 1998 list and even less business being 4th on the 2007 list.
• Chinatown and Apocalypse Now all deserve higher spots.
• To Kill A Mockingbird deserves a higher spot. If AFI thought Atticus Finch was good enough to be the top hero of all time, the movie he was in should be higher than 34th/25th
• Probably one of the best updates from '97 to '08 was Vertigo, which jumped 52 spots from 61st to a much more appropriate 9th.
• As crazy as I may sound and despite the criticism I know I'm asking for, The Godfather wasn't that great a movie. Should it make the list? Sure. Should it be 3rd/2nd? No way.

Getting Young People Interested In News

I was at my Cleveland TV station internship one morning, attending a 2-hour meeting about studies of viewers in the area. TV stations are like high school girls---they are constantly concerned with their social status. Girls spend lots of money on clothes and accessories so they can hang out with all the cool people. The station spent lots of money to conduct a study that told them what people in the area want out of their local news:

• people care about weather more than any other item in a local newscast.


• people want to know a station is genuinely invested in their interests.


• people want more breaking news.


• the station's main viewers are older, and have little interest in the station's website or social networking connections.

The station was so concerned with the weather, its consumer awareness programming and creating a sense of urgency with more breaking news coverage. It has a presence on social networking sites, but it is viewed as a minor piece of the "product." I use this point to illustrate the news industry's distant relationship with younger information consumers. I know it's very hard to get people my age interested in the news. However, if there was ever a chance to get them interested, it's through the constantly expanding wave of hi-tech gadgets.

We're starting to see the early effects of twitter, facebook and youtube employed as sources of news. A number of my friends say they first heard about recent celebrity deaths on twitter before they heard it anywhere else. TV stations and some newspapers are posting on networking sites along with their regular websites. People are signing up for cell phone news updates on topics specifically tailored to their interests. While the excess of information can be overwhelming and annoying, I do see some benefits.

From a business perspective, a news outlet that seeks every available method of information delivery has a distinct advantage in the marketplace. The 24-hour news cycle's constant demand for content can be alleviated with a variety of ways to present that content. I think there are still methods that aren't being exploited.

I'm a big fan of video games. I grew up on Nintendo and grew into the Playstation brand. Playstation 3's online capabilities are nothing short of amazing. Living in an apartment with no TV channels, I spend a lot of time playing games online and watching DVDs. I also watch youtube clips right off of the PS3 web browser. By including a blu-ray player, Sony has repeatedly expressed its aims to make the system an all-in-one entertainment device. What if we take it one step further and make it a news info device.

If news outlets could establish programs for online video game systems, I think it would open up a whole new group of potential content consumers. News groups could create RSS-based news feed programs, package them like video games and offer bundles for specific types of news and expansions for additional news groups. The program would feature a constant stream of multimedia from around the world.

In terms of media philosophy, I've always been fascinated by Milton's marketplace of ideas theory. He asserts that through a diverse amount of sources, This theoretical marketplace is an essential concept to consider in a discussion on democracy and its relationship with free speech. If we apply this to the video game news program, we have some interesting possibilities to consider. The current Sony accessories like the EyeToy webcams and USB headset microphone could come in handy. People could use webcams and microphones to talk to each other about all the things they'd be seeing, hearing and reading. You could chat with just audio or see others in living color. The diversity of the sources could be magnified by the added input of the various consumers.

Such a program could facillitate more dicussion about current events among a group not known for having those kind of conversations. Perhaps as younger viewers mature, they will have more incentive to consume more traditional media. It might also encourage more technologically-friendly adults to get into gaming systems and their additional uses. This is a largely untapped market for the news business and it deserves serious attention and consideration.

Generation Gap

A recent study from the Pew Research Center suggests the gap in personal beliefs between young and old Americans is widening. Since the last presidential election, we seem to be heading in different directions when it comes to a number of domestic issues. A lot of people are talking about how younger people are embracing the technological boom while older people are shying away from it or just haven't caught on.

As a spokesperson for the 20-something demographic, I can see how the emergence of new technology can be startling to more traditional types. I recall attempting to explain text messaging or how to use some computer applications to an older relative this past year. Text messaging took awhile, but she's starting to get the hang of it. With the computer, she just writes word documents and sends emails, but she has no interest in learning anything beyond that. I see in some adults doubts about a genuine need for things like blogs, twitter feeds, even cell phones. Of course, as a student of journalism, I'm fascinated to learn how social networking across the web is evolving. I want older Americans to be more aware of, if not genuinely interested in exploring, the web's potential.

All this thought about the gap raises a number of questions:

Is the new wave of cell phones and iPods and twitterers and bloggers just too crazy for the older generations to wrap their heads around? Will today's older citizens eventually breakthrough the theoretical technology barrier? When we get old, will we be as techonologically-saavy as the kids coming up after us? Will my generation's collective understanding of computers keep up with future waves of electronic advancement.

The essential illustration of the one generation's struggle with technology comes from comedian Frank Caliendo. For his TBS show, "Frank TV," he portrayed Andy Rooney of "60 Minutes" fame reviewing the iPhone. Hilarity ensues.....YouTube - FrankTV and the iPhone

A Victory For Hockey In Ohio

Kudos to the Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason on his Rookie of the Year award! The 20-year-old sensation's incredible season with 33 wins, 10 shutouts and an overall save percentage of .916.

During last Valentine's Day weekend, I drove three of my friends down to Columbus and took them to see the Blue Jackets play the Red Wings. None of them had ever seen a pro game before. Their first game ended up being an amazing, down to the wire nail-biter. Mason outdueled Chris Osgood and the Jackets narrowly won 3-2 in front of a big, playoff-like crowd. Ever since that game, my Ohio friends have become hooked on hockey.


Although the Jackets were swept in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of Detroit, they did manage to make their first appearance in the postseason. As a result, this year saw a dramatic change in the team's image in the area.

The city of Columbus is a college town on steroids, complete with a rabid and faithful legion of Ohio State followers. With obsessive enthusiasm, thousands follow Buckeye football and basketball the way some people follow religion. Given a culture so appreciative of competition, it was only a matter of time before the Jackets caught the eye of the fans.

Since it opened for hockey in 2000, Nationwide Arena has gone from nearly empty to nearly sold-out. Now that Coach Ken Hitchcock has trained his players to play his system of hockey, he has instilled discipline and maturity in this young team. If Columbus continues to develop its young talent and makes smart acquisitions through the season, the Jackets could be poised for a serious run at their second playoff berth. In the ever competitive Western Conference, Hitchcock's team stands out as a legitmate force to be reckoned with.

How To Rearrange Your Sleep Schedule

It takes about an hour to commute from my apartment to my internship.  I enter the newsroom a little before 2am each weekday morning so it tends to dictate when I sleep and when I hang out with people.  To accommodate my final piece of credit needed to graduate, I go to sleep around noon and get up around 8pm.  First, let me advise you:  

DO NOT rearrange your sleep schedule unless you absolutely have to.

...but if you must, here's some things that may help:

• coffee--I still haven't acquired the taste, but I became a coffee drinker strictly to support my work hours.
• late night restaurants---When midnight is lunch time, it's good to have a hangout where you can be loud and won't disturb roommates. 
• friends who don't work/work when you sleep--When I get home and go to bed at noon, no one else gets back from work until 4pm.  When I wake up, we discuss dinner/breakfast and possibly going out for the evening/morning.  
• replacing calendars with alarms--I frequently forget what day it is so I try and set alarms for places I need to be.

Working during hours that most dream of is difficult to get used to, but I find that it can have its perks.  I have an XM radio in my car with a great selection of music to choose from.  When I approach Cleveland and see the skyline come into view, I immediately change to the Real Jazz station or some similarly swanky channel.  The resulting combination of audio and visuals feels like the beginning of some stylish crime drama.  Also, looking out of the newsroom, I can see the light of the sun climb up the street.  Then, as if a switch was turned on, people start flooding the walkways and buses start flying by.  I get the distinct privilege of seeing Cleveland wake up and roll out of bed.     

First Post, An Introduction

Hello. My birthday is tomorrow so I decided to write my first ever blog. You're excited...I can tell. I guess I'll start with some background on how I ended up here:

I dumped Myspace in college to focus on Facebook, I've posted on Helium (cool site if you like writing articles) and I do Netflix friends and top movie lists, but that's been the extent of my online social networking. I've heard about blogs and I've read some relating to current events, hockey and other things that interest me. I never really seriously considered blogging until my internship started earlier this week.

In order to finish college and earn my B.A. in Broadcast News, I need to complete 300 hours at a TV news station. News, as you've probably heard, is one of those industries where newer is better. Lots of people are talking about newspapers on the decline and how the internet is going to replace everything.

While I like to keep up to speed with what's happening in the industry I'm supposed to be entering, getting a job just seems more pertinent at the moment. If things don't change by late August, I'll be entering a competitive job market made worse by our economy.

I'm from New Jersey, but I studied at Kent State. My internship is in Cleveland. In the newsroom, reporters and producers have been talking about the Iran elections and the Twitter/Facebook source of news. Some say Twitter could actually be the death of traditional news because it can get information out quicker than any mass medium used today. Others see it as a passing fad, thanks to people following cats and random posts about daily routines. Some of the stuff people post on sites like that is pretty lame, but I guess the same could be said for blogs.

In any case, it would be presumptuous of me to assume I live a fascinating life worth telling lots of other people about. I'll include observations and random thoughts from time to time, but this blog will also be used to keep me connected to the digital world and explore issues relating to media and its influence in the world. If you happen to read anything of mine, your comments and observations would be greatly appreciated. Peace.